The true tryall and examination of a mans owne selfe wherein euery faithfull Christian, by looking into his conscience, may most plainely behold his spirituall deformity by nature, described, his actuall rebellion by disobedience detected, his promise breach at baptisme, by ordinary transgression apparantly proued, his lamentable estate through sinne discouered, his wilfull obstinacie by dayly disorder displayed, and lastly howe by earnest repentaunce, and faith in Christ Iesu, he is from all the same clearely pardoned, forgiuen, released and reconciled / done in Englishe by Tho. Newton.

CHAP. 3.

He that wil profitablie and rightlie trie and examine himselfe, must diligently con∣sider his promise made at Baptisme, and how well m euery point he answereth the same.

BVT it may bee, thou comfortest thy selfe and waxest bolde, for that long ago thou wast bap∣tized: and thereupon makest thy reckoning that all thy sins, aswell originall as actuall before com∣mitted, were then remitted and forgi∣uen thee: and that therefore there is no cause to charge thee, or laie before thee any thing touching originall sin; and that thou canst not for that sinne be any more called into question, and drawen into iudgement.

Heere (loe) is there offered vnto thee an occasion of a newe, and alto∣gether a more seuere and precise exa∣mination. For certainely, if thou pur∣pose earnestly & effectually to try thy selfe, it is thy part and dutie, exactly & diligently to searche (as hath beene sayde afore) euery corner of thy Con∣science, whether in euery degree and respect thou haue vsed thy selfe and dealt according to that solemne vowe and profession which thou madest and vnder-tookest at thy Baptisme. Whereby it shall most plainely ap∣peare, whether there be any of those remnaunts of originall sinne and olde Adam yet remaining within thee, or no.

That thou maiest the sooner, the readier and the reuerentlyer bringe this to passe, it shall bee good for thee first diligently to weigh and consider such speciall things & materiall points as are commonly vsed and solemni∣zed at the very time that Baptisme is ministred: namely what each seuerall action meaneth, togeather with each circumstance and necessarie braunch thereunto belonging. And this being done, orderlie to proceede to the tho∣rough

search of each corner of thy in∣ward conscience.

Marke well therefore what was done, at the time that thou wast Baptized and so∣lemnely receiued into the Church, in the sight of God and his Angels, and of godlie beleeuing brethren.

FIrst there acknowledging thy selfe [ 1] by nature to be the child of wrath, ouerwhelmed & drowned in sins; and so long as thou so liuedst, to be vn∣der the power of the Prince of darke∣nes: thou camest penitently to the Church; deepely and solemnely there protesting that thou wouldest forsake the Diuel and all his workes, and that thou wouldest liue a newe and better life from thenceforth: that thou woul∣dest become a new man, cleane con∣trary to that thou wast afore: and that thou wouldest serue God alone in all synceritie and godlinesse of life.

Thou diddest thē also presently make [ 2] professiō of thy faith & beliefe in God the father, in Iesus Christ his sonne, & in the holy Ghost; making there thy humble praier, & beleeuing that thou shouldest be receiued into fauour and grace, not for any works of righteous∣nesse

in the selfe (which were none at all) but thorough the meere mercie of God, by the bloude of Christ, and by the lauer of regeneration.

[ 3] After thou haddest thus bewailed the wofull state of thy miserable vn∣worthines, and publiquely protested thine earnest repentance, and withall thereunto added a sounde confession of thy faith:then was there likewise set foorth vnto thee, the promise of God, made vnto all that truely repent and turne vnto him by a liuely faith, and are baptized: Hee that shall beleeue and bee baptized, shall bee saued. Amend your liues, and be baptized euerie one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes.

[ 4] These contestations and promises beeing thus solemnely made on both parts, thou wast bapt. sed, that is to say, thou wast dipped or sprinckled with water, & therewithall the Word of God was pronounced forth, hauing vertue after a maruelous sort to wash & take away thy sinnes by the bloudsheads of Christ. The Word was added to the E∣lement, & so was it made in thee a Sa∣crament: eue•• a Sacrament and Seale of the righteousnes of faith. Of that faith

(I saye) which thou euen a little while afore diddest professe; and of that righ∣teousnesse, which God promised vnto thee. And it is (as it were) an Inden∣ture of Couenants, or mutuall hand∣writing obligatory between God and thee. For in this action of thy baptisme there passeth a certaine mutuall bond or obligatō between you; euen much like as betweene Barterers & Bargai∣ners: but most aptly, properly, and spe∣cially betweene the husband and the wife. For, the couenaunt, promise and bonde here made, is not for any short while, but euen for the whole space of thy life: and so long as thou continuest in this world, the memorie of this pro∣mise & couenant by thee made, ought surely to bee imprinted in thy minde: yea still, euē so long as thy life lasteth, it behooueth thee (all that euer thou canst) to endeuor thy selfe to accom∣plishe and performe thy promised co∣uenants. Thou art now in this sort en∣graffed into Christ, and incorporated into his holy congregation, being the Church, & thou art receiued into the number & fellowship of the faithfull.

Moreouer the very fourme, manner [ 5] & customable rite of Baptisme it selfe

is a perpetuall witnesse of thy vowed promise, and admonisheth thee of thy duetie all the daies of thy life. Name∣ly first, when thou wast put down into the Font, dipped into the water, or sprinckled therewith, there was signi∣fied vnto thee, the mortification of thy selfe and all thy members, in that thou diddest there openly and solemnely professe, that thou wouldest die vnto sinne. Againe, thy raising and lifting vp againe out of the water, betokened thy resurrection and rysing againe to newnes and amendment of life. And it did represent vnto thee, that like as Christ died, was buried and raised vp from the dead for thee, so shouldest thou continually walke in righteous∣nes and true holinesse.

[ 6] Call further to remembrance what great benefites thou hast receiued in Baptisme, asivel in being thereby assu∣red of the good promises of God there and then made vnto thee, as also in being therby the more encouraged & stirred vp to performe such thinges as thou for thy part there diddest pro∣mise and vndertake. First, thy sinnes all & some, both originall, actuall and accessarie, were there freely remitted

and forgiuen thee. Sinne ceased there to be imputed vnto thee, and a newe righteousnes euē the righteousnes of Iesus Christ) was bestowed vpon thee. The force and strength of that sinne which naturally dwelt in thee, is bro∣ken & vanquished that nowe it should not be able (as afore) to raigne any more in thy mortal bodie, neither that thou shoul∣dest obey the lusts thereof. Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might bee destroyed, that henceforth we should not serue sinne. For indeed, sinne is in Baptisme remitted & done away, but not so, as that we should for euer after be cleare and voide of it, but that it should not be any more laide to our charge, or imputed vnto vs, and that it shoulde not raigne in vs, or beare soueraigne rule and dominati∣on ouer vs. As Augustine doth very well note in his Epistle to Julian, and in his exposition of the 102. Psalme: but most excellently and plainely is it sette out and explaned by the bles∣sed Apostle Paule in his Epistle to the Romaines: I delight in the lawe of God, concerning the inner man: but I see an other Law in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind, & leading me captiue vn∣to

the Lawe of sinne, which is in my mem∣bers, &c.

There is also the holy Ghost giuen vnto thee in Baptisme, and that partly, to bee (as it were) an earnest-peny of vndoubted assuraunce to thy consci∣ence, for all those good and speciall benefites which thou art to receiue, specially after this life: and partly to bee (as it were) a cooperator in their sanctification, & to assist vs in resisting all the euill suggestions of the wicked spirite, & of sin naturally bredde in vs. The spirite (faith Paule) helpeth our infir∣mities. For it cannot otherwise be, but that whosoeuer receiueth the Holy Ghost, receiueth also many other most singular gifts and excellent blessings. For as he is a gift himself, so is he like∣wise a bountifull bestower, & a liberall disposer of gifts heauenly & spirituall. He strengthneth our faith, he enkind∣leth in vs loue, hee fostereth hope, hee stirreth vs vp to shew forth the fruites of good works, and (to be short) he san∣ctifieth and directeth the whole man.

These sixe most notable and excel∣lent thinges, were at the time when thou diddest receiue Baptisme, fully concluded, effectually professed, and

autentically sealed, partly in thee, and partly through and by thee: and ought therefore of thee to bee borne in me∣mory, & neuer to slide out of thy dai∣ly and hourely remembrance.

Now doth it stand thee vpon, yea it is thy bounden duty, and an especiall part of thy chiefest care, diligently to consider in what case thou standest: thou must (I say) now enter into thine owne Conscience, and there make a true suruey of all thy dealinges, howe thou art, howe thou hast beene in life and actions answerable vnto the same, and after what sort thou hast perfour∣med thy promise, and obserued these thy sealed couenants. God for his part doth (doubtlesse) stand to his promise: for hee is true and faithfull, and neuer starteth from his worde, nor changeth his purpose. And therefore gaue he to thee then, and from that time foorth, his holy spirit, as a pledge of his faith∣full promise and assured good will to∣wardes thee.

Now, if thou on the other side, wilt for thy part exactly sift out, and search thy self, how thou hast discharged thy vowed couenants, & performed these thy faithfull and solemne promises,

thou shalt without all doubt finde thy selfe many and sundrie waies guiltie. Confesse the truth (I pray thee) and speake vnfainedly, whether thou hast not since that time fallen into thine olde byas, and turned backe to thine old crooked nature and corrupt man∣ners? Whether the lawe of thy mem∣bers, and the reliques of sinne, natu∣rally still cleauing vnto thee, haue not manie times prouoked, allured, moo∣ued, yea enforced thee to attempt & practise some thing against the lawe of God? Whether thou haue not some∣times listened, giuen eare and place vnto Sathā (who alwaies lieth in waite to catch theee) and hearkened to his wicked temptations, allurementes, counsells, and suggestions? Whether thou haue so intirely continued dead vnto sinne, that thou hast hitherto li∣ued onely vnto righteousnesse? Alas, it is too plaine and true, that thine owne Conscience heerein accuseth thee, and within thee with open crie testifieth against thee, that thou hast most hainouslie manie times reuolted from thy bargaine, falsified thy pro∣mise, and careleslie run headlong into manifest iniquitie.

If this then bee true, (as (alas) it is most true) there is no shift but thou needs must acknowledge & cōfesse thy selfe to be a creature most vile, wicked & miserable. For first, thou must needs yeeld, that thou art a leaguebreaker, a falsifier of promise, a despiser & open violatour of thy couenant made vnto God the father: then which, what can bee more horrible? Thou hast frustra∣ted the wholsome effects of the death & resurrection of Iesus Christ, wherein thou hast with no lesse contumelie re∣proched Christ, then they which nai∣led him on the Crosse. Thou hast gree∣ued the holy Ghost, & displaced him, who had made a choise of thee, as of an house to dwell in. The Angells of God, whom afore by thy repentance & mortification thou causedst to reioyce ouer t••ee, now by thy new fall & lewd∣nesse thou hast brought to sorrowe for thee. The whole Church, which reioi∣ced, and was glad when shee receiued thee for one of her dear new Citizens, & conceiued good hope of thy Chri∣stian towardnes, thou hast now shame∣fully deceiued, & drawen into sorowful lamentation. To be short, thou hast despoiled and bereft thy selfe of those

giftes, which with the holy Ghost, and by the holy Ghost, were bountifully & liberally bestowed vpon thee.

What shift or meane therefore re∣maineth, if the Lorde being a iust and righteous iudge shoulde strictly deale with thee for thy misdeedes, and nar∣rowly looke into thy transgressions, but that before his Tribunall seate in the heauenly consistorye, God the fa∣ther, God the sonne, and God the holy Ghost (accompanied with infinite le∣gions of blessed Angels, & in the sight of the whole Church beho••ding & ap∣prouing it) should pronounce thee for one, that hast worthely deserued eter∣nall death, & euerlasting punishment, as a periured caytife, as a treacherous recreant, as a faithles promisebreaker as a false hearted wretch vnto God the father, as a bloudy cutthrote, haling & drawing Christ vnto the Crosse anew, as an enimy to the Holy Ghost, as a mocker of the blessed Aungels, as a Traytor to the whole Church, as a shamefull runne-away from the holy congregation, and finally as a cruell manqueller of thine owne selfe?

What canst thou now do? What way wilt thou take? What hope or trust cāst

thou haue? What land, what ground can patiently beare the burthen and weight of thy wretched Carcasse? What heauen, what sunne, what pla∣nets, what starres can quietly looke on thee, or willingly giue shine vnto thee? Or what eies rather canst thou, or darest thou lift vp vnto heauen?

The time was, when thou wast in excellent good state, and wast ador∣ned and endued with right excellent giftes: but now through thine owne fault and wilfulnesse, thou hast altered thy case, and caused those thinges which of themselues were good, hol∣some, and to thee most profitable, to turne all to thy harme and confusion.

Truely it had beene better for thee neuer to haue heard of the will and promise of God: neuer to haue beene washed and cleansed by the bloude of Christ, then after all these, to forsake the holy commandements, and like a filthy swine to returne to thy wallow∣ing in the mier, and as a dogge to lap vp his old vomit.

Beholde nowe (wretched creature that thou art) vnto what a dangerous staie thou hast brought thy selfe••, and with what maner of gaping gulf thou

art euen ready to be swallowed. If the Lord God vouchsafe not in time with mercy to releeue and succour thee, it will come to passe, that thee by wicked & vncleane spirit, which was once ba∣nished and cast out of the washing of thy newe birth and by the holy ghost, will come and take vp his lodging a∣gaine in thee; and not hee alone, but hauing with him seuen other spirites worse then himselfe, whereby thy case will be farre worse in the ende, then it was in the beginning. O wofull case, O wretched plight, O moste miserable estate.

Looke well to thy selfe therefore I beseech thee, & cōsider what thou art, acknowledge thy grieuous sinnes and manifolde offences; remember the la∣mentable ende whereunto they will bring thee, and therefore bethinke thy selfe night and day, and in time seeke for remedy.

Notes

• Eph. 2. 19.
• Act. 2. 38.
• Tit. 3. 5.
• Mar. 16. 16
• Joel. 2. 13.
• Act. 23. 8.
• Rom. 4. 11.
• Ephes. 5.
• Rom. 6. 4.
• Eph. 2. 13.
• Rom. 6. 4.
• 1. Cor. 6. 11.
• Tit. 3. 5.
• Rom. 6. 12.
• Rom. 5. & 7. 22.
• Rom. 8. 16.
• Eph. 1. 14. & 5. 26.
• Rom. 8. 16. 27.
• Rom. 12.
• 1. Cor. 12.
• Gal. 5.
• Heb. 12.
• Ephes. 4.
• 1. Cor. 6.
• 2. Pet. 2. 21.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11. 26 Lu